Come Closer to Christ Through Council

Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

https://www.lincolndiocese.org

www.facebook.com/LDCCW

Then I remembered the answer to the why God created us. It was to know, love and serve Him in this life, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven. We are women of faith and service! Always searching for the whys and what’s of life. Seeking to draw closer to Him, sharing our love for others through the practice of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.During the next two years, I would like you to join me in helping to promote the LDCCW. Invite friends to the meetings, come because you want to know more about Christ and His earthly servants, come to learn more about the religious Sisters that serve in our Diocese, keep in tune with new programs that are being offered in our Diocese, and come to unite and build your sisterly relationships. Together we can and will achieve more!

Faith, family and friends, in that order, are the three things I care most about in my life. As many of you know, I am a convert to the Catholic faith. I joined the church in 1993 and for the past 33 years have tried each day to live my faith and serve the Church. I believe in servant leadership and will always give a listening ear to you. I don’t know everything about our faith but trust in God to daily guide and direct my actions.

My husband, Leroy and I have been married for 52 years and support each other in our activities. Both of us are retired. We have four children, Cara, Josh, Zach, and Ann who are all happily married and have blessed us with 14 grandchildren.

As we begin this journey together, let us support one another in faith and friendship. May we always seek God’s guidance in our actions and decisions, trusting that He will lead us to fulfill our purpose. I am grateful for each of you and look forward to the blessings and growth we will share as sisters in Christ. Let us move forward with hope, love, and a spirit of service—united in our mission and strengthened by His grace.

With gratitude and blessings,



Valerie Able, 2026-2028 President

Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

HALOS

ST. WENCESLAUS, WAHOO DEANERY

Can you imagine 35+ ladies showing up for your next PCCW meeting?

It may seem an extreme stretch, but the St. Wenceslaus Wahoo PCCW is enjoying just such a success. Have you ever frantically searched for a place to charge your phone, even for just 10 minutes. That ten minutes will give you the opportunity to send a quick email or shoot someone a text saying, “I’m on my way”. Let’s be honest there are many days, too many to count, that we all feel our battery is running low.

What if your PCCW quarterly meeting offered ladies a place to recharge?

This became our goal, to provide a place to connect with old friends and make new ones, to receive

spiritual encouragement and to consider opportunities for service in our parish, leaving ladies

feeling renewed and fully charged.

How did we reach this goal?

It all starts with an invitation. Texts, flyers, bulletin announcements and emails are used to make

sure we reach all the ladies of the parish, young and old alike. We hold four quarterly meetings on

the 2nd Tuesday in February, April, September and November. Each meeting has a theme that is

incorporated as much as possible. Upon arriving at the meeting, the ladies are greeted at a decorated welcoming table where they receive a nametag and agenda. The meeting begins promptly at 7:00 and all business is conducted in 1 hour. It is very important to keep the business part of the meeting short.

Click HERE to read more...

(Note: We hope you enjoy this new addition to the newsletter! We would like to use this column to highlight PCCW or Deanery news – feature parish happenings, pictures, etc. shining a light on those councils that are serving their parishes/deaneries through Spiritual or Corporal works of Mercy. If you have articles to submit for consideration, please email them to ldccwpresident@gmail.com)

Leadership Commission

The Leadership Commission provides organizational development, offers opportunities for leadership training, and provides public relations resources. It distributes publications to assure the successful organization and management of the Council and its programs. It serves to strengthen the leadership team at every level of Council work. This commission is responsible for ongoing training of officers, updating and distributing the resource manual and providing leadership materials.

Guided by Catholic social teaching, the Leadership Commission assists women in understanding the legislative process, provides the skill to analyze current and proposed law, and promotes activities that will bring about greater social an economic justice in our society at the local, state and national level.

Legislative:

Alice

Licht-Anderson

NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS ON APRIL 17

Senators closed down the 2026 Legislative Session marking the end of the 109th

Legislature, 2nd Session on Friday, April 17. Final legislative bill work was complete on

April 10. April 17 was spent honoring those senators who are term-limited out or those

who are not running for re-election. Those not able to run are Senators John Arch,

LaVista; Tom Brandt, Plymouth; Robert Clements, Elmwood; Wendy DeBoer,

Bennington; Myron Dorn, Adams; Ben Hansen, Blair; Megan Hunt, Omaha; Mike Moser,

Columbus; and, Dave Murman, Glenvil.

Click HERE to read about:

**What didn't happen?

**What made it to the governor's desk

Service Commission

Trish Seidl and I are honored to serve as co-chairs of the LDCCW Service Commission. Other commission members include Caroline Helget, Trudy Burenheide, and Kay Wessel.

“The Service Commission addresses the concerns and needs of families, the community, and the world.” The commission is perhaps best known for its annual Diaper Drive, which has grown significantly in recent years. To date, nearly two million diapers have been collected through this important effort.

In addition, the Service Commission supports and promotes a wide variety of programs, including Apostles for Life; Birthright and Pregnancy Centers; Catholic Social Services; Chastity Programs; the collection of eyeglasses, toiletries, and rosaries; Catholic Relief Services; Engaged and Worldwide Marriage Encounters; Family Ministries; Healing Hearts; making and distributing rosaries; the Missionary Childhood Association; Natural Family Planning; Prison Ministry; the Propagation of the Faith; Senior Citizens programs; World Marriage Day; and more.

To all the “Marthas” out there, I look forward to welcoming you and getting you involved in LDCCW.



Warm regards,

Julie Rosenbaum

LDCCW Service Commission Co-Chair

Spirituality Commission

The aim of the Spirituality Commission is to create a community that is educated and dynamic. Catholic women, called to discipleship and holiness, are asked to respond with personal witness to the Church and to the world. This commission reinforces our Catholic faith and assists in meaningful work with other faiths.

The Spirituality Commission offers a means to enhance public and private prayer and provides resources for spiritual nourishment and development of the faith community. This commission encourages and promotes many apostolates including Bible studies, retreats, Divine Mercy devotion, Seven Sisters and Adopt a Priest program, support for religious, parent educator books, rosary devotion, and daily prayers to St. Monica, just to name a few. Any effort to increase the spirituality of LDCCW women, their families, and all people in our diocese falls into this commission. 

Date __________

I wish to join Council Women of the Eucharist – Mary’s Marthas.

I resolve to spend one hour each week in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament (or at home) to pray for:

1.     Holiness and Happiness in

Families

2.     A Christlike Response to Priestly and Religious Vocations

Name _________________________

Parish _________________________

Email Address _________________________

Phone Number _____________

Meet the 2026-2028

LDCCW Executive Board Members

We welcome our new Board members for the coming term:

PRESIDENT: Valerie Able

PRESIDENT ELECT:

Kathy Rentschler

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: Donna Havlat

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Kadlec

THIRD VICE PRESIDENT: Michele Chambers

RECORDING SECRETARY: Joyce Reich

TREASURER: Carrie Magorian

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Teresa Koch

AUDITOR: Karen Dey

SPIRITUAL ADVISORS:

Fr. Thomas Lux and

Fr. Thomas McGuire

To get to know more about them, please click HERE to find out all the details!

LDCCW Mission Statement

The Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, under the authority of the Bishop, seeks to grow in holiness and to live out our faith through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy in the service of God and His Church.

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:

To admonish the sinner

To instruct the ignorant

To counsel the doubtful

To comfort the sorrowful

To bear wrongs patiently

To forgive all injuries

To pray for the living and the dead

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:

To feed the hungry

To give drink to the thirsty

To clothe the naked

To visit the imprisoned

To shelter the homeless

To visit the sick

To bury the dead